Training + CDL cost in 2020

The maritime provinces are less expensive to train in as they don't have the melt requirement yet. There is no shortage of jobs available to drivers at the moment, pay in the maritimes may be a little less than the west of Canada but the cost of living is much lower. A slower pace than Calgary or Vancouver or Toronto.

Everyone wants something different, I moved here from Spain 11 years ago though I'm English. My daughter lives in Calgary but that place isn't for me, I'm happy to go there a few times a year to see them then get back here to normality but I am old and antisocial.

I drive over the road and spend two to four weeks at a time away, but there is plenty of regional work home weekly. That's running maritimes to north east to Toronto and back usually in a fridge. Some love it, I wouldn't. Again everyone is different . I don't know if any of the larger operators train, but if they do its a way to get experienced on someone else's dime for a time commitment.

 

Well you are still young, not middle aged by my standard anyway.
Knowing that, I would do my homework and follow the path that looks best. Being an adventurer at heart, I would probably make a move somewhere. You have an idea and you can follow through after studying all the angles.
In the end you may find trucking is not for you and choose something else. There are likely other high demand, specialized trades to get into. Be diligent and turn over all the stones. You never know what you will find. Good luck.

 

I would move to the US, esp Texas/Florida, after 1 year, the companies down there will literally pay for your lisc/training. You will earn almost double, and be paid in US dollars.

Ive been trying to move to the US for 3 years now (Canadian Citizen) a guy I drove with is Cuban. He said “#### this” went back to Cuba for a month, moved to Florida, and after 12 months of working normal jobs, he was hired at Prime and they paid for everything. He’s now buying a house and looking to go O/O.

Some might get mad at me for this, but honestly Canada is maybe 2-3 years away from being a failed state. So I wouldn’t even bother, there isn’t anything here worth moving for.

 

Man, take me with you!! PLZ!! I need to get the #### out of here before it kills me!! Like you say, there is nothing left here, scraps to fight over. Chump change pay in almost all sectors. Deteriorating health care. Social programs that advertise well but without substance, all propaganda. Communism.

 

I’m trying hard man, 10 application since 2015, all rejected. The next step is an immigration consultant, big $$$$$. I might just wait until things really go south here, and try the asylum/fleeing economic hardship route. Tough being a single straight white guy, you don’t fit the narrative for green card selection lol.

Speaking of healthcare, the wait in Calgary for Emergencies is now 48 hours, and as for scraps. Journeyman electrical/plumbers and carpenters, 21/hr now, bring own tools, 2 week contracts that need constant renewal.

 

I believe it. You're not a doctor nor an engineer. Going at it alone I was told many times there's zero chance. Everything's corrupt, so It takes special "people" ($$$$) to get the job done. Good luck finding them however, you'll need some serious connections. Or, starting a business down there with a local is another way, then you get married to one, kids, etc etc .. 3-6 years later and you should get residency at least.

Canadian healthcare is hilarious. 5 years I've been on wait lists now, guess they expect me to do the honorable thing and just go to Mexico and pay for it out of pocket. I know Indian doctors that get in on the Canadian system and then jump over to USA and double their income. So we're hooped. We can't pay doctors enough to stay here.

I know a head brewer at a big brewery downtown Van, he gets $21/hr,. He's forced to live way outside the suburbs, drives to work over an hour each way in a junk car. Once again, head brewer! Not some packing guy or cellarman. The ###-brewer gets $15, how do you survive on that when rents are $1500+ for a closet. Scary stuff.

I'm afraid nothing good is coming for us here in Canuckistan, and that's a direct result of ignorance, apathy, and complacency of the various communities apartheid from each other. We lack unity.